Apparatus for treating the contents of filled cans



L. V. JOHN SON APPARATUS FOR TREATING THE CONTENTS OF FILLED CANS Filed March 19, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR,

Dec. 15, 1931. v, JOHNSON 1,836,803

APPARATUS FOR TREATING THE CONTENTS OF FILLED CANS Filed Mar ch 19, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 15, 193i urarrn s'rrss r rem OFFICE LINCOLN v, JOHNSOIQ',:OESAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T GARDNER MANU- rnornnrns COMPANY, LTD or' SU'NNYVALE, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION or CALIFORNIA APPARATUS run TREATING ens conrnn'rs or FILLED cANs Application filed March 19, 1930. SerialNo. 437,027.

inis invention relates to an apparatus for tr sti g the contents of filled cans.

Partlcidarly this nvention relates to an apparatus for cooking and cooling the'conf;- of' filled cans. 1

The primary object of thednvention is the provision of-a combination cooker andcooler arranged in series with each other, the outlet of the cooker bei connected to the ,intake of he cooler, to allow a continuous paiage l fihe cans i he cooker to the cooler; p "us being n'o'vided to'drlve the can advancing mechanism of the cooker and the (OOlGl' in synchronism with each other.

Auotherobject'of the invention to prov de rnparatus for tr ating the contents or cans, uch apparatus includes outer shell and inner shell, a helical can track around the innershell, and a series of shift: ing elements around the track spaced from the outer shell, to advance cans on the ca track; the outer shell having an inlet thereon, the outlet being formed thru the can track and thru the inner shell to discharge the cans interiorly and allow connection of the outlet to the inlet of the outer shell of another similar apparatus arranged in series with the first apparatus. 7 Another object of the inven n is to support the annular seriesofshiii'tirg bars of i to allow for the es:-

change {it emperature' Other ob ects be understood that the invention is not lim ed tosuch form, because t may be emred in other forms; and it is also to be understood that in and by the claims follow' the description, it is desired to cover nvention in whatsoever form it may be einhodied.

cooker.

of said bars, caused The invention is clearly illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, wherein Fig, l is a side view otthe apparatus part the cooker and insection.

F 2 is an end view of the apparatus, showing the' feeding of the cans into the ot' the cooler being shown Fig 3 is an end view of the cooler outlet end the apparatus; and

l is a fragmental sectional view of the L paratus, the section beingtaken thru the outlet of the cooker and its connection to the inlet of the cooler.

The cooker 6 comprises an outer shell 8, supported on legs 9 and being preferably of cylindrical cross section. An end of the shell 8 is covered by an end plate 11. Within the shell 8 and preferably concentrically therewith is fixed a cylindrical inner shell 12, so as to inclose an annular chamber 13 throughout the entire length of the inner periphery of the shell 8. Around the shell 12 is secured a helical rail or track is, said rail being prefsection, with its leg portion erably made 01" s projecting outwardly into the concentricspace or chamber 13 between theinner and outer shells 8 and 12. The helical track 14 has such a pitch that its coils are separated a distanceadapting the track it to receive and support cans16 lengthwise upon the adjacent arm portions of adjacent coils of the track 14. v i

An annular series of longitudinally extend-ed, can moving-bars or shifters 17 are arranged lengthwise in the space or chamber 13. The series ofbars 17 are held in fixed spaced relation by a ring gear 18 and fastening rings 19, which are secured around the outer periphery of the annular series. The rings 19 are longitudinally spaced from the ring gear 18, one on each side thereof, The out re shifter mechanism is supported by the rotatable supporting of the rings 19. The

rings 19 rest on supports 21 and 22 fixed on c tainer flanges 26 thereon. The respective rings 19 rest on the periphery of the rollers 24 between said flanges 26, whereby axial movement of the said ring 19 is obviated.

In the other supports 22 are elongated flangeless rollers 27 to support the other ring 19 with freedom of axial displacement. Thus if the shifter bars 17 expand, due to the heat in the cooker, an end of the shifting mechanism is allowed to move on the roller 27, thereby preventing undue stress or the buckling of the bars. 7

The ring gear 18 is in mesh with a pinion 28 on the top of the shell 8. By rotating the shaft 29 of the pinion 28, rotary movement is imparted to the ring gear 13, whereby the annular series ofshifting bars 17 is carried around the chamber 13, advancing the cans on the helical can track 14. Of course, if the cooker is made of such length as to require additional support and drive, the same may be arranged by providing the ring units heretofore described, at diflerent points on the length of the series of shifter bars 17.

One or more can inlets 31 are provided on the inlet end of the shell 8 for admitting the cans, or other packaged goods, thru the shell 8 into thechamber 13 and onto the helical can track 17 at a point or at different points along the length of the track 17. The cans are delivered to the inlet 31 by a suitable conveyor 32 discharging into a chute 33, which latter communicates with the inlet 31.

A can outlet 34 is provided on the track 17,

opening toward and discharging to the interior of the inner shell 12. For this purpose the outlet extends thru the shell 12 and has a guide chute 36 secured therein connect ing the said outlet 34 to the inlet 31" of the cooler 7. It is to be noted that heat is conveyed into the chamber 13 by suitable steam conduit-s 37 and water isdrained from the shell 8 through a drain pipe 38.

In its general organization the cooler 7 is of the same construction and arrangement as the cooker 6 heretofore described. The primary diiference between the cooker 6 and the cooler 7 is that the cooker has a heating substance admitted thereinto, While the cooler is suitably chilled.

The shell 8 of the cooler is of smaller diametcr than the inner periphery of the shell v 12 so that the intake end of the shell 8 can 1 extends to the outer periphery of the cooler shell 8 thereby to obviate a draft of air into the interior of the cooker inner shell 12.

In the cooler is provided an inner shell 12 with a helical can track 14 on the outer p-eriphery thereof. The shifter bars 17 are supported ano driven similarly to the bars 17 of the cooker. The bars 17 and 17 are provided with longitudinal retainer flanges 43 to prevent the release of the cans from the helical track. Thus the cans are confined between the track 14 or 14 and the retaining flanges 43 of the respective bars 17 or 17 and are thus prevented to roll upon or bump against the inner periphery of the shell 8 or 8'.

In order to allow the introduction of the cans onto the tracks 14 and 14, the retaining flanges 43 are cut away at 44 opposite the can inlets 31 and 31.

In operation the can is carried in a continuous helical path thru the cooker and the cooler, without interruption of its movement; the can is confined within the tracks at all times; it is never agitated by bumping against the outer walls of the cooker and cooler. The apparatus provides a compact, unitary cooker and cooler, with positive advancement of the cans therethru in such a manner as to render the treatment of the contents of cans automatic, without any danger of injury to the cans or to the machine, or to the contents of the cans.

Having thus described this invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus for treating filled cans, an outer shell, a helical can track fixedly arranged therein in spaced relation to the inner periphery of the shell; a can inlet, a can outlet, a rotary can mover movable between the can track and the shell and adapted to advance cans on the helical track from the inlet to the outlet; a drive member fixed on the rotary can mover; means to impart rotary movement to said member to operate said can mover, rings secured around the rotary can mover; and anti-friction ring supports on the shell to hold the can mover in a predeteri ined position to allow freedom of expansive and contractive movement due to temperature changes.

In an apparatus for treating filled cans, an outer shell, a helical can track fixedly arranged therein in spaced relation to the inner periphery of the shell; a can inlet, a can outlet, a rotary can mover movable between the can track and the shell and adapted to advance cans on the helical track from the inlet to the outlet; a drive member fixed on the rotary can mover, rings secured around the rotary can mover, one on each side of the said member; and a support for each ring, one of the supports being adapted to prevent longitudinal movement of the respective rin the other support supporting the other ring with freedom of axial movement to allow for the variation of the length of said can mover due to temperature changes. r

3. In an apparatus for treating filled cans, an outer shell, a helical can track fixedly arranged therein in spaced relation to the inner peri hery of the shell; a can inlet; a can outlet; a rotary can mover movable between the can track and the shell and adapted to advance cans on the helical track from the inlet to the outlet, means to operate said rotary can mover, a support in the shell to support the can mover with freedom of rotation and to prevent longitudinal movement thereof, and

. another support in the shell to support said can mover With freedom of lateral movement to provide for the variation of the can mover length, due to temperature changes in the apparatus.

4. In an apparatus for treating filled cans, an outer shell, a helical can track fixedly arranged in the shell being spaced fromrthe shell periphery; a can inlet; a can outlet; an annular series of shifting elements between the can track and the shell periphery being connected to eachother; means to move said series of, elements between the can track and the shellvto advance cans on the said track; means to drive said series of elements, and means in the shell to rotatably support said series of elements, said supporting means being adapted to allow for the expansion and contraction of said series of elements due to changes of temperature.

5. A filled can treating apparatus comprising a treating mechanism, and a second can treating mechanism, each having an outer shell, a can inlet on each shell at corresponding points on the ends thereof, a can outlet Within the interior ofeach shell at an end treating mechanism, each having an 'outer shell, a can inlet on each shell at corresponding points on the ends thereof, a can outlet ithin the interior of each shell at an end thereof opposite the inlet, means in each shell operated in synchronism, to advance'cans from the inlets to the respective outlets; and means to connect the outlet of one shell to the inlet of the other shell to introduce the cans discharged from the first shell into the 2 second shell, the end of the second shell adjacent the inlet thereof being inserted into the first shell in operative relation to the outlet of the first shell. 7

7. In an apparatus for treating filled cans,

1 a first can treating mechanism, and second can treating mechanism, each mechanism including an outer. shell, a helical can track arranged within each shell and spaced from the inner periphery of the shells, means to advance cans on the helical can track; an exterior inlet located at a corresponding end of each shell, an interior outlet on each can track located at an end thereof opposite the inlet; means to connect the outlet of one mechanism to the inlet of theother mechanism; and means to operate the can advancing 'means of both mechanisms in synchronism With each other. e

'8. In an apparatus for treating filled cans, a first can treating mechanism, and second can treatingmechanism each including an outer shell, a helical can track arranged with in each shell and spaced from the inner periphery-of each shell,lmeans to advance cans on the helical can track; anexterior inlet located at'a corresponding end of each shell, an interior outlet on each can track located at an end thereof opposite the inlet; the inlet end of one shell being adapted to be inserted into the outlet end of the can track of the other mechanism, can guiding means to con-.

nect the adjacent outlet and inlet to each,

other; and means tooperate the can advancing means of both mechanisms. in" synchronism. i r i 9. In an apparatus for treating'filled cans, a first can treating mechanism, and second can treating mechanisnr each including an outer shell, a helical can track arranged Within each shell and spaced from the lnner periphery of each shell, means to advance cans on the helical can track; an exterior inlet located at a corresponding end of each shell, an interior outlet oneach can track located at anend thereof opposite the inlet; the inlet end of one shell being adapted to be inserted into the'outlet end of the can track of the other mechanism, can guiding means to connect the adjacent outlet and inlet to each other; and means to operate the can advancing means of both mechanisms, in synchronism, the said can advancing means in each mechanism comprising a rotar can mover movable in the space around t e can track, said mover being cutaway adjacent the can inletto admit cans into the can track.

10. In an apparatus for treating filled cans, a first can treating mechanism, and second can treating mechanism each including an outer shell, a helical can track arranged Within each shell and spaced from the inner periphery of the respective shells, means to ad- Vance cans on the helical can track; an exterior inlet on each shell, an interioroutlet on each can track; the inlet end of one shell being related to the outlet end of the can track of the other mechanism, can guidingjmeans to connect the adj acentgou'tlet and inlet to each other; means to operate the can advancing, means of :bothmechanismalthe.said'can advancing means in'each mechanism comprising an annular series of shifter bars movable in the spacearound the respective can tracks said bars being cut away at a point opposite the can inlet to admit cans into the can track; means in the respective shells to rotatably support the bars in spaced relation to each other; and means of connection between the respective series of bars and the said operating means. I

11. In combination a cooker and a cooler, each comprising an outer shell, a helical can track arranged in each in spaced relation to theinner periphery of the shell, means movable in the space around the can track to advance cans on the can track; an exterior inlet on each shell, an interior outlet on each can track, an end of the cooler being related to the outlet end of the can track of the cooker, means to connect the outlet of the cooker to the inlet of the cooler to guide the cans from the cooker to the cooler, and means to impart movement to the respective advancing means.

12; Incombination a cooker and a cooler, each comprising an outer shell, a helical can track arranged in each in spaced relation to the inner periphery of the shell; means movable in the space around the can track to advance cans 0n the can track; an exterior inlet on each shell, an interior outlet on each can track, an end of the cooler being related to the outlet end of the can track of the cooker, means to connect the outlet of the cooker to the inlet of the cooler to guide the cans from the cooker to the cooler; means to impart movement to the respective advancing means, the said can advancing means in each mechanism comprising an annular series of shifter bars movable in the space around the respective can tracks said bars being cut away adjacent the inlet to admit cans into the tracks; means in the respective shells to rotatably support the bars in spaced relation to each other; and means of connection between the respective series of bars and the said operating means.

' 18. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a casing, a helical can track in the casing, rotary means complementing the can track to confine cans on the track and to advance the cans on the said track; an exterior inlet on the casing at one end of the can track; an interior outlet on the other'end of the can track, said rotary means being cut away opposite the inlet to admit cans therethru to the can track opposite the inlet; and means to impart rotary movement to said advancing means.

14. An apparatus to treat filled cans comprised of a casing having a ring shaped cross section, and adapted to contain a thermal medium; a can inlet on the exterior of said casing at one end thereof; a can outlet on the interior of said casing at an end thererot-ate therein, said mover being cut away on the outer circumference thereof adjacent the can inlet to admit cans into the space between the can mover and the spiral path, to advance cans from he inlet to the outlet along the spiral path; and means to rotate the can mover.

15. An apparatus to treat filled cans comprised of a cylindrical casing; a casing arranged in concentric relation Within the first mentioned'casing; a spiral can track around the outside of the second mentioned casing; means to supply tilled cans through the outer casing to the spiral can track to be treated; means to discharge filled cans that have been treated from the spiral track through the inner casing; a can mover, for moving cans from the inlet to the outlet, to confine the cans to a spiral path of travel between the can track and can. mover, mover having a portion of its outer periphery cut away adjacent the inlet to admit cans into the space between the can track and can mover; and means extended thru the outer casing to rota the can shifter.

16. An apparatus to treat filled cans comprised of a cylindrical casing; a casing arrangedin concentric relation within the first nien'ticnct casing; a spiral can track around the or ide of the second mentioned casing; means to supply filled cans through the outer casing to the spiral can track to be treated means to discharge filled cans that have been treated from the spiral track l".- rough the inner casing; a can mover, for moving cans from the inlet to the outlet, to confine the cans to a spiral path of travel between the can track and can mover, said mover having a portion of its outer periphery cut away adjacent the inlet to admit cans into the space between the can track on the interior ofthe first mentioned casing to support the can mover; and means extended thru the outer casing to rotate the can shifter.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Francisco, California, this 5th day of March 1930.

LINCOLN V. JOHNSON.

and can mover; rollers k 

